William Robert Collins, III

Naples - Edina, MN and Naples, FL - William R. Collins, III, known to many as Billy, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2025, in Naples, Florida surrounded by his family and special team of caregivers.

Bill was born to William and Marie (Newman) Collins on March 10th, 1946, in Bemidji, MN. He grew up in Fargo, ND and attended Saint Anthony School in Fargo and graduated from Shanley High School in 1964 where he met the love of his life, Mary Pat Swanick. Bill and Mary Pat were married on June 15,1968 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo, ND. Bill and Mary Pat enjoyed a beautiful life together raising two boys in Fargo before moving to Edina, MN. They enjoyed summers at their lake cottage on Pelican Lake for 53 years and winters at their home in Naples, FL.

After graduation from NDSU, Bill began his career in the highway construction business at the company started by his grandfather, William Collins & Sons. He worked alongside his father, uncles, and cousins constructing highways and dams in North Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. Bill always looked back fondly on those days and enjoyed reminiscing about building highways with his family. It was a true family business.

Bill branched out on his own in 1975 and built a career as a life-long entrepreneur in the construction industry. He started St. Paul based companies National Minerals Corporation in 1978 and General Resource Technology in 1993. He continued to work with his Father and ultimately his 2 sons. Bill believed in self-determination, hard work and taking risks, but most importantly he believed in those who he worked with. Every employee was a relationship he appreciated, especially the equipment operators and truck drivers.

Bill cultivated many lifelong friendships from childhood and all the way through his adult life. He became a golfer in his 40's and he really enjoyed the time he spent with his friends and the high stakes competition on the golf course. His smiling eyes and sense of humor will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William and Marie Collins, his sisters Jeannie Weiler, Claudia Murphy and Mary Ellen O'Toole. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Mary Pat, sons Rob and Travis, daughter-in-law Virginia; grandchildren Katherine, Caroline and William and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held this summer at their home on Pelican Lake. To send notes of sympathy and comfort to Bill's family please visit his tribute page at www.fullernaples.com